Senators sponsor state bill to ban Native American mascots Activist Rhonda Anderson of Colrain is a member of the Inupiaq and Athabaskan peoples. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ COMERFORD Published: 2/14/2021 7:34:49 PM Area state senators are sponsors of a bill that would prohibit public schools from using Native American mascots, logos and team names. State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, filed Bill SD.417 a few days ago to take up the mantle in the fight against imagery and mascots deemed insensitive to Indigenous communities. Comerford is the lead sponsor and Adam Hinds, a Pittsfield Democrat, has signed on, as have Democratic colleagues Sonia Chang-Diaz, Jack Patrick Lewis, Rebecca Rausch, Sal DiDomenico and Jason Lewis. The bill has previously been unsuccessful in legislative session.